Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy, also known as counseling, is a form of treatment for mental health conditions that involves communication, emotional processing, and improved self-awareness with the support of a licensed professional. The goal of therapy is to help individuals overcome challenges and improve their overall mental health and wellbeing. Depending on the individual's specific needs and goals, therapy can be short-term or long-term and can involve varying degrees of emotional difficulty. While therapy can be challenging at times, it can also be incredibly rewarding and transformative for those who are committed to the process. At Spark and Pivot Counseling, our team is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based therapy services to help you achieve your goals and live your best life.

We believe that therapy is a unique and personal journey for each individual. Our therapists use evidence-based practices tailored to your specific needs and goals. During your first session, you and your therapist will discuss your history, current concerns, and what you hope to gain from therapy. From there, you will work together to develop a treatment plan and establish goals for your therapy. Your therapist will provide you with tools and resources to help you cope with challenges and improve your mental health. Sessions typically last 50 minutes and can be scheduled weekly or bi-weekly. We encourage open and honest communication with your therapist throughout the process to ensure that your therapy experience is positive and effective.

There are 5 typical stages of readiness as it relates to pursuing change and personal growth (see table below for details). It is helpful to consider where you may be within these stages, but it is important to remember that as you pursue change you may go in and out of stages as you face different challenges and develop new skills. Meaning, change is rarely as linear as a change model may suggest. If you are researching therapists, chances are you are ready.

Source: Hilton Head Health

Coaching and counseling are often confused with each other, but they are distinct practices. Counseling typically focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Counselors are trained to help individuals understand their experiences and emotions in order to find relief and healing to accomplish goals. Depending on the presenting issue, a Counselor may focus on the past or present, but will always have a goal for improving the client's outcomes for the future. Coaching, on the other hand, is a process that helps individuals reach their personal and professional goals with less emotional vulnerability. Coaches work with individuals to identify their strengths, overcome obstacles, and develop strategies for success. While coaching can involve discussing emotions and personal challenges, it is not intended to diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and in cases where trauma is identified, the coach will refer to a counselor / therapist. At Spark + Pivot, we offer both counseling and coaching services, depending on each individual's needs and goals. Our licensed counselors provide evidence-based treatments to address a range of mental health concerns, while our coaches help individuals achieve professional growth.

Culturally-sensitive counseling refers to a therapeutic approach that takes into consideration a person's cultural background, values, beliefs, and experiences when providing mental health services. It recognizes that the way people view and cope with mental health issues may be influenced by their cultural identity, social context, and historical experiences. Culturally-sensitive counseling involves developing an understanding of the client's cultural worldview, communication style, and unique needs, and tailoring the therapy to meet those needs. It also involves acknowledging and addressing cultural barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking or receiving mental health services. We strive to provide culturally-sensitive counseling services that are inclusive, respectful, and empowering for clients from diverse backgrounds. Cultural factors may include (but are not limited to): language, spirituality/religion, regional background, ethnicity, race, affectional/sexual identity, and gender identity.

Helpful resources on this topic:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/culturally-sensitive-therapy#

https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ACA%20Digests/ACAPCD-24.pdf

https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2023-01-17/what-it-means-to-have-a-culturally-responsive-therapist-why-it-matters-group-therapy

Trauma-informed care is an approach to mental health services that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma on an individual's life. Trauma can be defined as any event, experience or situation that is emotionally painful, overwhelming, or distressing, and has the power to affect an individual's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Trauma-informed care is a framework that prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment, and is designed to help individuals feel respected, heard, and supported throughout the process of healing and recovery from trauma. At Spark and Pivot Counseling, we believe that trauma-informed care is essential to providing effective mental health services, and we strive to incorporate this approach into all aspects of our work.

Helpful articles about this topic include:

https://www.acesaware.org/ace-fundamentals/principles-of-trauma-informed-care/

https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/childrens_mental_health/atc-whitepaper-040616.pdf

https://ct.counseling.org/2023/10/prioritizing-trauma-informed-care/

Intake sessions are 80-minutes and cost $250, and existing patient appointments are 50-minutes and cost $200. We want to provide accessible care when possible, so we offer a sliding scale fee based on income, with a minimum fee of $75 per session on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for more information on our fees and payment options.

Our services are private pay, meaning we do not accept insurance.

However, if you have out-of-network benefits for counseling services via your insurance provider, I have partnered with Thrizer to handle the claims process automatically for you. You will still need to make payment, but with Thrizer, you will only have to pay a copay for our sessions after hitting your out-of-network deductible, instead of paying my full fee and waiting for reimbursements. This typically allows clients to save on average 70% upfront on our sessions. During our intake process, I can help you verify if you have out-of-network benefits and how much your copay would be.

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*Please note that diagnostic testing and career counseling sessions are not eligible for Thrizer pay / out-of-network reimbursement.

We offer individualized career counseling services tailored to fit your unique needs and goals. To get a better idea of pricing, schedule a free consultation or contact us. During the consultation, we will discuss your particular needs and goals and work with you to create a personalized career counseling plan that fits your budget.

To get an idea of typical pricing:

• Intake sessions are 50-minutes and cost $200.

• If career assessment would be a helpful part of your career counseling process, Megan will work with you to determine which type(s) of assessment(s) are most appropriate. Assessment (including administration, analysis, and a 80-minute interpretation session) ranges between $300-$500 depending on your goals.

• Client appointments are typically 50-minutes and cost $200.

Megan can also structure career counseling intensives in which we work in larger blocks of time (2- to 6-hours) to tackle a broader scope of career counseling tasks. Please contact Megan directly if you are interested in learning more about that option.

Megan Parks DuBose, MS, LPC #92412, NCC is qualified to work with adult clients in Texas who are coping with a myriad of mental health challenges. She has treated clients coping with anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and disorders involving psychotic features (hallucinations and delusions). Given the strong correlation all of these diagnoses have with trauma and adverse childhood events (ACEs), Megan assesses for traumatic history and takes a trauma-informed approach to therapy.

Whether you are grieving the death of a child; processing new awareness of abuse or neglect you experienced as a child; navigating a divorce; or suffering from crippling anxiety or PTSD that is affecting your work, Megan has experience and formal training to support you in a safe and affirming way.

Additionally, Megan is an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, providing a safe and sensitive therapeutic approach for those navigating identity transitions, relationship challenges, family issues, and systemic barriers in work.

No, currently Spark and Pivot Counseling does not participate in insurance programs. Our approach is to provide mental health services without the constraints of insurance company requirements and diagnoses - and to keep your records confidential at a time where certain diagnoses are being stigmatized in a damaging way.

We will provide you with a superbill each month that provides information that is typically required to see "out of network" benefits with your provider.

If you have out-of-network benefits for counseling services via your insurance provider, I have partnered with Thrizer to handle the claims process automatically for you. You will still need to make payment, but with Thrizer, you will only have to pay a copay for our sessions after hitting your out-of-network deductible, instead of paying my full fee and waiting for reimbursements. This typically allows clients to save on average 70% upfront on our sessions. During our intake process, I can help you verify if you have out-of-network benefits and how much your copay would be.

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*Please note that diagnostic testing and career counseling sessions are not eligible for Thrizer pay / out-of-network reimbursement.

Additionally, you may use flexible savings accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) to pay for our services.

According to Nick Walker (2021, Neuroqueer.com), neurodiversity is the diversity of human minds, the infinite variation in neurocognitive functioning within our species. It is a necessary and critical part of our functioning and survival as a species, and has been found in other species. In this podcast, Dr. Maureen Dunne describes neurodiversity in a very approachable and helpful way, and explains how research in bee hives has illuminated how it shows up in other speciies.

Neurodivergence is a term to describe individuals whose brains interpret or process information differently than most people. It is a flexible term that can be used to encapsulate different diagnoses (such as, but not limited to): autism, ADHD, AuDHD, dyslexia, sensory processing disorder, and Tourettes. A helpful overview can be found here. It is important to note that every neurodivergent person's experience is unique based on the environments and people they interact with daily, and therefore their strengths and challenges may look very different depending on the person and the context. Said simply, no single "type" of neurodivergence exists.

The neurodiversity-affirming approach is built on principles that advocate for personal agency, respect for unique neurological needs, and fostering environments that empower neurodivergent individuals. It is based on principles of the Neurodiversity Paradigm, and will take shape in many different ways depending on the personal experience and needs of the client.

To hear Megan speak more about what neurodiversity-affirming mental health care looks like in her practice, watch the video below and read this blog post.

Megan is most experienced working with autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD women and LGBTQ+ folks. She has also supported people with dyslexia, and challenges herself to regularly research and consult with professionals and organizations that help her advance her learning about other forms of neurodivergence. If you identify as neurodivergent and would like to discuss with Megan what treatment might look like, please schedule a free 20-minute consult.